Protective shield for sewing machines



Nov. 10, 1942; c. F. RUIQBEL 2,301,454

PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec; 37, 1940 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 i; .28 i o Q T 17 11 I b 36 J5 (3:; 3% fun: (7 I 9; 50 a, 4'9 27 O v. f

11 H6; 3 52 11 v 36' AM 46' 4 735 40 19 1 354 31 IN VEN TOR: maria; Efiubel,

' ATTORNEYS.

C. F. RUBEL Nov. 10, 1942'.-

. PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: lmrlesif/Zubel,

, ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 10, 1942 r PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR SEWING MACHINES Charles F. Rubel, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 27, 1940, Serial No. 371,895

8 Claims.

This inventionrelates to shields for sewing machines, that is to say, to shields designed to prevent discomfort or injury to the operators who run the machines.

In operating certain types of sewing machines, particularly those of the feed off the arm variety, the arm of the operator is rested on the work support while manipulating the fabric which is being sewed. As a'consequence of frictional heat generated incident to high speed rotation of actuating mechanism within the work support, and the conduction of such heat (which in some instances rises to 125 F. or more) to the top surface of the work support wherein the operator's arm rests, considerable discomfort or even injury is likely to ensue.

The chief aim of my invention is to overcome the above contingency, which objective I make "possible of realization in practice, as hereinafter more fully disclosed, through provision of a shield which constitutes an auxiliary 'arm rest and which is sustained with provision of an interval between it and the work support of the .sewing machine to prevent conduction thereto of ifrictional heat from the mechanism-within said arm.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows the front elevation of a feed off the arm sewing machine conveniently embodying the protective shield of my invention.

Fig. 2 shows the machine in top plan.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail sectional views taken as respectively indicated 'by the angled arrows III-III, IV-IV and V-V in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the removable top cover plate for the work support of the machine; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the protective shield of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken as indi cated by the angled arrows VIII-VIII in Fig. 7.

The sewing machine which 'I have illustrated for convenience of exemplifying my invention is generally of the construction featured in a copending patent application Serial No. 306,826, filed by Norman V. Christensen on November 30, 1939. As shown, the frame of the machine has a fiat base H) from which extends horizontally and at an angle, the anchorage portion 1 la of a hollow work supporting arm ll whereof the free end portion l lb is substantially'at right angles to said anchorage portion. Rising from the base I is a hollow standard ill from the top of which extends a horizontal arm l3 whereof the front end over- 55 reaches the free end portion "of the work arm ll. Confined to up and down movement in the outer end of the arm I3 is a vertical axis needle bar l4, which, through suitable means not illustrated, is actuated from a rotary shaft l within said arm, and which, at its lower end, carries a pair of needles lli. At its right hand end, the shaft l5 extends through a bearing boss H on the standard and on its protruding end carriesa combined handand beltwheel l8 whereby the machine may be operated either manually or under power. Cooperating with the needles IS in stitch formation within the outer end of the portion Nb of the work arm are suitable loopers (not illustrated), which, together with suitable feed means (likewise not illustrated) also within said portion llb, are actuated by mechanism (Fig. 3) within the anchorage portion 1 la of said work arm. As shown, the mechanism 20 includes a shaft 2l which is journaled in bearings 22, 23 and 24 at the interior of the work arm portion Ho, and which is rotated through a bevel gear pinion 25 by suitable drive mechanism (not illustrated) within the standard l2 connected to the needle actuating shaft l5. From Fig. 3, it will be observed that the shaft 2i extends through the bearing 22 at the elbow'of the work arm H for attachment thereto of a rotary-take-up 26 for the looper thread or threads used in the machine,

said take-up being protected by a downwardly .swingable hollow cover 21 hinged to said work arm. The machine is equipped with a folder 28, which, see Fig. 2, is secured to a slide 29 mounted with capacity formovement longitudinally of the free end portion llb of the work arm ll. Accordingly when desired, the folder may be withdrawn from the region of stitch formation. For convenience of access to the mechanism at the interior of the work arm H, the latter is fitted with a removable top cover plate 30 which conforms generally to the shape of said arm, and which is secured to the latter adjacent its edges, with interposition of an oil sealing gasket 3|, by screws 32 and 33. In the use of sewing machines of the described type, the operator sits with the free end portion llb of the work support H in a direct line before her and rests her right arm on the anchorage portion Ila of said work arm with her right hand positioned laterally adjacent the folder 28. Then with her left hand correspondingly positioned at the outer side of the free end portion I lb of the work arm ll, she manipulates the work with her two hands to guide its edges into the folder 28.

During high speed operation of the machine,

considerable heat is generated by friction of the shaft 2| within its bearings, which heat may reach a temperature of 125 F. or more, and which is transmitted directly to the cover plate of the work arm ll whereon the right hand arm of the operator rests, with resultant causation of considerable discomfort and in some instances pain and injury. With a view toward overcoming this difficulty, I have provided in accordance with my invention, a protective shield which is separately illustrated in perspective in Fig. 6. As shown, this shield 35 is fashioned from sheet material, preferably metal, to the general configuration of the cover plate 30, which is separately illustrated in perspective in Fig. '7, and hence of the work arm ll. When in position on the machine the portion 35a of the shield 35 is supported with provision of an interspace between it and the corresponding portion 30a of the cover plate 30 upon a plurality (in this instance four) of suitably spaced lugs 36 of small area upstanding from said plate (Figs. '7 and 8) adjacent its edges, and secured by screws 31 (Fig. 2) whereof the shanks threadedly engage into said studs. The portion 35a of the shield is pierced as shown in Fig. 6 for convenience of access to the heads of the screws 32 by which the cover plate 30 is secured in position. The portion 35b of the shield 35 is bent downwardly as at 350 to contact directly with the corresponding end portion 30b of the the upper ends of transparent sight gauge ele-' ments 42 and 43 through which the lubricating oil level in the compartments 44 and 45 of the work arm ll may be observed. The shield 35 is swelled somewhat at 46 to clear an upward protrusion 41 of the cover plate 30, and, see Fig. 4, may carry on its bottom face a tension device 48 for the looper thread or threads. As shown in Fig. 7, the cover plate 30 has a cut out or notch 49 to clear the tension device 48 which, see Fig. 4, is positioned directly over a channel 50 set apart by a longitudinal partition 5! in the anchorage portion Ila of the work arm H for traverse by the looper threads. Centrally of its rear crosswise edge, the portion 35a of the shield 35 is formed with an upturned tab 52 to serve as an auxiliary guide for the looper threads, said guide being in line with eyes at the bottom end of a guide strip 53 extending upward to the top of the needle arm [3 of the machine frame.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efiicient protective shield which can be readily attached to existing sewing machines at small expense. It is, of course, to be understood that the shield is not limited in its application to machines of the specific type herein shown by way of example, since by suitable modifications within the scope of the appended claims, it may be as readily adapted to other forms of sewing machines.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination in a sewing machine having a needle arm in the end of which a bar carrying a needle is confined to up and down movement, a hollow work support below and overreached by the needle arm, complemental stitch forming mechanism with actuating means therefor journaled within the work support; of a shield on the work support serviceable as a rest for the arm of the sewing machine operator, said shield having a configuration and area substantially like the configuration and area of the work support being secured with provision of an interspace between it and said Work support for air circulation to prevent conduction thereto of heat generated incident to high speed rotation of the aforesaid actuating means.

2. The combination according to claim 1,

wherein the shield is sustained by a plurality of spaced lugs of small area projecting from the work support and secured by screws whereof the shanks pass through apertures in the shield and threadedly engage into the lugs.

3. The combination according to claim 1. wherein the work support of the machine has a removable top cover, and wherein the shield is attached to said cover.

4. The combination in a sewing machine having a frame comprising a base, a hollow horizontal work arm with an anchorage portion extending at an angle to the base and a free end portion substantially at right angles to the anchorage portion, a standard rising from the base and sustaining a horizontal needle arm whereof the free end overreaches the free'end of the work arm, a bar with a needle confined to up and down movement in the end of the needle arm, and complemental stitch forming mechanism at the free end of the work arm with rotary actuating mechanism therefor within the anchorage portion of the work arm; of a shield on the work support servicable as a rest for the arm of the machine operator, said shield having a configuration and area substantially like that of the work support and being secured with provision of an interspace for circulation of air between it and the work arm to prevent conduction thereto' of heat generated incident to high speed rotation of the actuating means for the complemental stitch forming means.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the shield is sustained by a plurality of spaced lugs of small area projecting from the work support and secured by screws whereof the shanks pass through apertures in the shield and threadedly engage into the lugs.

6. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the end of the shield over the anchorage portion of the work arm is sustained by and secured to upstanding lugs of small area in said portion, and the other end depressed into contact with and secured to the top of the free end portion of said work arm.

7. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the work arm of the machine has a removable top cover; and wherein the shield is attached to said cover.

8. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the machine is provided with a fabric guide which is slidable longitudinally of the free end portion of the work arm; wherein the end of the shield over the anchorage portion of the work arm is sustained by and secured to upstanding lugs of small area on said portion; and where in the end of the shield over the free end portion of the work arm is slotted to clear the shiftable fabric guide and depressed into direct contact with the top of the last-mentioned portion of said work arm.

CHARLES F. RUBEL. 

